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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Dog bit postman

29 replies

Emma145 · 05/12/2018 10:59

Hi I have a two year old pug who I always shut in the living room when I answer the door to the postman however I can't have shut it properly as he got out and jumped up at him and bit him on his knee. The postman showed me his leg luckily it had not broken the skin but there was a red mark. He only seems to act like this when he sees the postman, in the street he barks when he sees him and I pull him away but doesn't bark at other people but I need to do something about it

I got my dog back in and went out and apologised to him and he said he is off to the doctors and will have to put in a complaint.

Does anyone know what might happen now? I feel so bad for the postman who was just doing his job and must have been scared and i am worried about my dog. It's my fault I should have made sure he was away.

It doesn't help I've been up all night with my 6 month old I just want to sit and cry.

OP posts:

fessmess · 05/12/2018 11:03

I have no practical advice but sending 🤗

Avrannakern · 05/12/2018 11:05

Get the dog enrolled in puppy classes today. Take action to deal with the dog's behaviour and you might not face anything worse. But don't be surprised if the post office decide they will no longer deliver to your address and you need to go collect all your post from the delivery office.

No one should be bitten when they are at work. Doesn't matter if the skin wasn't broken. Your dog needs to be trained.

claraschu · 05/12/2018 11:11

A friend of mine explained why dogs go for postmen. In a dog's mind, everyone who comes to the door needs to be warned off, then friends come in, a dog gets used to them and sees them interact with family, so accepts them as ok. A postman is the person who keeps coming to the door, being warned and going away, so in a dog's mind the postman is an enemy who has been effectively scared away (by the dog's heroic efforts). Apparently, if you invite the postman in, and he sits with you, shakes your hand inside the house, etc, the dog will learn that he is a friend.

i don't know about your current situation because the postman sounds (understandably) like he might be too upset to come in and socialise with you, but maybe it is something to keep in mind for the future.

I hope everything is ok for you-

Original poster

Emma145 · 05/12/2018 11:13

Thanks for the advice he has done puppy classes before so I'll give them a ring about going back (he was only 12 weeks old when we did them)

And thanks fessmess

OP posts:

Sunisshining5346 · 05/12/2018 11:14

Right well don't panic firstly. Postmen are use to it..trust me!

The postman has obviously got a bit of fear of dogs. He will have to report it, so he can justify why he won't be dropping your post off again.

If our dogs are out, the postman here won't drop our letters off. He is petrified of dogs. He just writes on the letters 'won't deliver due to dogs being out in the garden'
We then just get the letters, when a different postman is on duty or the dogs aren't out in the garden.

Original poster

Emma145 · 05/12/2018 11:16

Claraschu - that does make sense though I can't see the postman agreeing to it now and we don't always have the same one but we are planning to move next year so I'll keep it in mind.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 05/12/2018 11:19

Box on the outside of the house for post and parcels?
Stairgate in the hall?
Is this the dog’s only issue? Puppy classes alone are rarely sufficient for a well trained dog.

cheesywotnots · 05/12/2018 11:19

Can you put a lidded plastic box on the step for post so you don't need to open the door.

Original poster

Emma145 · 05/12/2018 11:21

I live in a flat at the top so the dog isn't in the garden but maybe they will just refuse to deliver anything that can't go through the letterbox. Before I was on maternity leave they used to just leave them outside the door so might be an option

Thanks for all the replies! I think lack of sleep makes things seem a thousand times worse (Not that I'm saying it's not bad as the dog shouldn't bite)

OP posts:

AgentProvocateur · 05/12/2018 11:22

The postman has obviously got a bit of fear of dogs.

Utter nonsense! He just didn’t expect to be hurt when carrying out his job. Of course he has to report an injury at work

DonDrapersOldFashioned · 05/12/2018 11:22

I frequently collect parcels from my local sorting office and there is a note in there about dog attacks on post office staff. The numbers are shocking, it is a very common problem. 44 postal workers a week are attacked by dogs in the UK, with 2,275 reported attacks in the 2017/2018 recording year.

www.royalmail.com/personal/dog-awareness/

It’s good that the bite was more of a nibble but I would read the link above re RM dog awareness for future reference and definitely look at classes etc.

Original poster

Emma145 · 05/12/2018 11:26

Stairgate is a good idea!

The only other issue we have with the dog is that he barks at birds when he sees them outside the window and when he hears motorbikes although doesn't do this outside just when he is inside. I think he has gotten worse since my son was born but that might be me not stopping him as quick when I'm preoccupied so he is getting away with more

OP posts:

Original poster

Emma145 · 05/12/2018 11:28

Thanks for the royal mail link will take a look.

Agree that the post man shouldn't expect to be hurt and that he needs to report it as if I was hurt in my job I would do the same.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 05/12/2018 11:29

Is he getting enough exercise?
I have a wolfhound. I NEVER open the door without checking the stairgate is secured. She loves the postie though. 9/10 the parcels are for her!
You are clearly taking this very seriously and are prepared to ensure it never happens again. No the dog shouldn’t have done what it did but you’re taking responsibility. That’s what’s important now.

olivertwistwantsmore · 05/12/2018 11:30

Postmen are use to it..trust me! WTF, , sunisshining? They're used to dogs biting them??

The postman has obviously got a bit of fear of dogs. He will have to report it, so he can justify why he won't be dropping your post off again.

What a load of shit. The OP didn't say anywhere that the postman was afraid of dogs. You can tell you're an unreasonable dog opwner.

I was talking to our postman the other day about this, as he was being harassed by a dog outside our house. He said he has to report bites, and the dog is usually put down.

Original poster

Emma145 · 05/12/2018 11:35

Wolfiefan- He gets 3 walks a day and I try to make one of them really long, as we don't have a garden I have no option but to take him out. I suppose with the rain this week he hasn't had as much but that is because he refuses to walk in the rain he is very lazy!

I think I am going to get a stair gate too and just triple check next time that he can't get out into the hallway.

OP posts:

Kittykat93 · 05/12/2018 11:39

Definitely stair gate.

Eatmycheese · 05/12/2018 11:42

Our beautiful dog bit someone delivering leaflets. She had never behaved like that at the door before, it was utterly out of character.
It broke the skin and he required hospital treatment.

He reported us to the police and went to a solicitor. Our home insurance sorted it and the police did visit the house. We had an otherwise well behaved dog who had never done this before and we had already had a wall mounted letter up and the letter box on the door sealed. We even took her to the vets to see if there was underlying medical issue. There wasn't.

Our dog was not destroyed. The police officers told us that this happens a lot but if the dog has never done this before and / or unless they are a dangerous breed they don't normally prosecute or confiscate dogs so they can be destroyed.

Try not to worry though I know it's hard not to.

Sunisshining5346 · 05/12/2018 11:50

My father has been a postman for thirty six years..and yes this happens nearly everyday!!!!!!

Sunisshining5346 · 05/12/2018 11:52

How am I an unreasonable dog owner? Please enlighten me as to how you know me?! 😂

BiteyShark · 05/12/2018 12:36

I have a baby gate and my dog goes behind it before I open the door to anyone. It's amusing because when someone bangs he barks and runs to the door but I send him off and he automatically goes into the room so I can shut the gate as it's become second nature.

BrokenWing · 05/12/2018 13:49

Dn(20)'s reactive rescue dog bit her postwoman and scrapped the skin when she heard them in the back garden and came around the unfenced side/up the drive of the house to deliver a parcel. She'd only had the dog 3 months at this point.

The post woman reported it to the post office as she was obliged too, but she also came back the next day and had a chat with dn who was very apologetic. After their talk the post woman, who also had a rescue, said she wouldnt take it any further and dn took steps to ensure it never happened again (hasn't in the last 6 years). All you can do is be proactive to make sure it didn't happen again and wait too see how the post office / postman responds.

SlothMama · 05/12/2018 14:24

You need to get a trainer/behaviorist to visit the house, they can advise you on what to do. In the meantime a baby gate should be put up to maintain safety for the postman.

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 05/12/2018 17:52

I taught my dog to jump on the sofa when the door bell went off. I kept him there until I had answered the door and then let him off. It’s not hard to do. Maybe try that

Arnoldthecat · 05/12/2018 18:19

I am in the business of knocking on doors and visiting members of the public.

It amazes me how many people will come to the front door and open it allowing a dog to poke its nose out or worse still, get outside. I DO NOT know your dog and i do not wish to meet it in this uncontrolled manner. If it bites me i will take legal action.

Having said all that , i am a doggy person and once inside and assured that doggy is nice and friendly, im more than happy to meet him/her..

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